Allie is short for ALICE!  I LOVE Alice in Wonderland and I'm excited about the new movie coming out this weekend, but the traditional images and story will always be my favorite.  If you love ALICE, you'll want to come celebrate with us in April, when the store turns TWO!

First class is  below, and is a card class.  Also upcoming in April is our SUITCASE class with Sara Hanlon, we have a few seats left for that.  We'll also have a MAD HATTER crop complete with flamingos, tea and cake!  We're adding details daily.

RSVP to reserve your spot or your kit for this class.  Kits will be available following the class.  You must prepay.

I will be away this weekend for a quick getaway before leaving for Ranger University next week.  The store will be open, and we're still having crops.  In store we have specials on Christmas and Valentines, and free magazines with every $25 purchase.  

Don't miss our Easter line – Hippity Hoppity – it's hopping away  FASSSST.  

See it all online here.  You can even order online and pick it up – we will reimburse the shipping!  We have an EASTER layout class coming up soon, too!

Don't miss ALTERED BOOK CLUB either – a full day to celebrate our love of techniques, and the artistic destruction of old books.  Everything old is new again when you're feeling crafty.

Lots more fun stuff coming, but wanted to sneak in an update before dinner.

C'mon… Take some time and CAPTURE your LIFE in ART!

(this image courtesy of timholtz.typepad.com)

Inks are expected soon, and we have extended our Ink Bundle offers.

$99 for the inks AND reinkers with free shipping to the U.S.

$59 for just the inks.  Yeah, we'll still ship free to the U.S.

Do you have a favorite color?  Want a BUNDLE of Tim's or Ranger's products, just for you!  E-mail us and we'll put something together just for you.  Think of it – a custom palette at a custom price.

What you'll soon see in the Studio…

ALL the new Ranger products – Distress Inks and Refills, new Black and White Enamel products, new set of Perfect Pearls, and Claudine's new Dry Time Medium.

ALL of Tim's new signature products, including his new book Compendium of Curiosities, Alterations (the Sizzix Line), his papers and everything from Ideaology, all his new stamps.

Wendy's new STUDIO 490 stamps, binders, and book.  Yes, you will be inspired to make some ART, Wendy style!!!

Lots of GOODIES from MAYA ROAD including … MAYA MIST

PICTURE REMOVED

fun projects from Quick Quotes, and coming soon from Quick Quotes …

Don't miss this fun event in Dallas!  The event takes place October 22 – 24.  You can book through us, layaway available.  Also, receive an extra special present just for going with us!  We will be making hotel accomodations and taking a van if you would like to travel with us as well!   

We R Memory Keeper collections, available ONLY in your Local Scrapbook Stores…  also, the CINCH!  The first three folks to pre-order their CINCH will receive a CINCH t-shirt!

CLICK HERE to see a Creating Keepsakes video of the CINCH in action.  Turn down your speakers, there's a lotta CHA CHA CHA going in the background at the Making Memories booth.  Trust me, they've covered all the basics on this beauty, it's like having your own personal helper – no extra body parts or third hands needed to CINCH your books!

What's already here…

Graphic 45's Le Romantique, On the Boardwalk, and Proper Gentleman

PICTURE REMOVED

Check out  Blue Moon's VIDEO of the Graphic 45 booth.  They're right, it's EXQUISITE!  All of the paper is available online and in store NOW!

Hmmm, anything else…

Ranger has VIDEOS up from CHA!

Oh yes, Croppinsville EXCLUSIVE, new Allie Gower metal embellishments that you will really enjoy!

Sorry, no sneaks on that yet … have to see my prototypes.  Stay tuned though, for a SNEAK and a GIVEAWAY!

So anyway, can you even imagine my surprise at being ACCEPTED!  So mom, I don't have a PhD yet, but I will be RANGER Certified.  My poor husband was in the shower and I scared him silly, shrieking like a school girl.  It went something like, NUH UH, OMG OMG OMG, NUH UH, is this for real???

I'm so excited.  Ranger U is a three day program, where participants learn everything there is to know about everything Ranger from Tim Holtz, Claudine Hellmuth, and Suze Weinberg and many more excellent Ranger folks.  I am thrilled to join the ranks of some of my FAVORITE artists, including Wendy Vecchi, Linda Cain, and Jennifer McGuire.

The thing I am most excited about is all the knowledge I'll be able to bring back to you.   I know many of you have Ranger products, and I don't know nearly as much as I should, so you can have faith that over time, I will go over EVERYTHING I learn there.

To those of you who knew I was going and crossed your fingers, knelt in prayer, and wished me well … thank you, can you see the power there is in your positive thoughts!!!  I am so thankful for your support and encouragement.

Now, it's back to work on CHA preparations.  If you are attending the Super Show, I will be helping Pat Huntoon (Technique Junkies) while she does demos.  I lucked into this – I volunteered and Pat said she would like my help – color me thrilled!  Stop by and see us.  Technique Junkies is really the best, I have been a susbcriber for YEARS and think Pat and her TURBO TEAM are just the best.  I am pleased as punch that Pat is publishing a card I did for a guest design spot.  

Overall, it's looking like a REALLY good year.

Learn the techniques to create stunning fragment tiles to make your own unique “Junque Journal”.  This class will be taught by Sara Hanlon who is a mixed media artist.  Sara took a class from Tim Holtz last summer and she is teaching his little secrets with his approval!

You will have an opportunity to make your own special journal complete with tiles, game pieces, keys, beads, and ephemera.  All this is included in your class fee of $65.00!  Class size is limited.  Purchase your ticket to this class below.  Once you have paid, you will receive a supply list and additional information regarding this class.

You bring your book and basic tool kit, we provide stamps, materials, supplies and more. $5 fee applies.  We'll have a SHOW and TELL period, followed by the exploration of a new TECHNIQUE.  We'll stamp, paint, cut, and more as we get our fingers INKY creating a one of a kind Altered Book!  

Save 10% on purchases made following Book Club, and on an supplies needed for sessions.  Special supply lists will be posted.

We're kicking off the return of ALTERED BOOK CLUB with a PLAY DAY.  Join us March 27 from 10:00 to 5:30.

Bring your supplies and your book.  We will break for lunch at 12:30 pm.  Bring a lunch or join us at Doug's Grill!

Lots of demos throughout the day, and lots of time for good old fashioned creative play!!!

Learn more about Altered Books.  Click here to be taken to the International Society of Altered Book Artists.

TRINKETZ

Join us as we learn to use Tim's ideaology pieces and gorgeous papers and canvas to create one of a kind jewelry pieces.  You will learn lots of different techniques, and go home with some finished pieces and more to play with.

April 10, from 11:00 to 3:00 pm – breaks for snacking and shopping

Instructor:  Allie Gower

Samples created by Sara Hanlon

I want to take the time to invite ScrapHappy's patrons to Croppinsville.  We're a little drive, and not nearly as big, but I believe we are worth the trip.  Collinsville has lots of great places to eat and go antiquing, and we would love to see you.  We carry lots of fun vintage papers, Disney items, and we're more than happy to special order anything you don't see that you may be needing, or wanting!

We will honor your ScrapHappy ELITE cards, or you can sign up for a free rewards account and we'll even give you a free gift.  If you choose to sign up for rewards, you'll be delighted to know that we keep track of your rewards – no cards or punches.  You earn 10% back on ALL purchases – so easy peasy.  You can earn a $10 discount for every hundred dollars you spend – no rounding, excluding, etc. just discounts.  Classes and crops also apply to your rewards.  If you are an existing customers, you are eligible to utilitize your Elite card or your existing membership rewards, however…we will honor memberships or rewards, but can't do both.  Got coupons?  We honor competitor coupons daily, up to 25% off.  We can't always price match, but we'll always try to make you a good deal!

FREE FRIDAY CROPPING at CROPPINSVILLE too.  Whenever we don't have an event scheduled, just reserve a table!  

We have the greatest set of coupons this month, so please… c'mon out and check us out.

JUST A REMINDER …  Many LSS have closed in the recent past – Stampers Anonymous, Scrapbooks Galore, the Jenks store, and more…  Don't forget your LSS.  I love a good deal, a coupon, or a sale …  After you check out Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn's … please remember to show your LSS some love.  I still shop the other stores.  You know… at this rate, we're an endangered species.  We have a lot of stores still here in the Tulsa area, but overalll, the LSS is becoming a rare breed.  We're all in this business cuz we love what we do, and you know you see that passion when we show you something new, or help you complete a project.  We all love a good sale, or a great deal, but nothing compares to an LSS – it's the real deal.  With the recession, it's simply tougher on us all, but please … when you can, show your LSS some love.

P.S.  ScrapHappy Teachers and staff, we would like to invite you to teach or design kits at Croppinsville.  At this time we aren't able to hire any employees, but we would like to help any way we can.

This is my first view of your Kits.  I would love to win one and try it out!  Thanks for offering a "give away".  I hope I win this time… smiling.

Marlou Fronapel

I have e-mailed Marlou – I need your shipping info.

I hope to have a sample sheet ready to go – I will fill orders in the order received, and start sending out invoices once they are ready to ship.  At this point – it's been very popular, YEAH, so I have about a dozen kits left up for grabs.

BUY IT NOW!

Paint Color Preference

Here's my sample!

I painted the body a minty green and then did a second coat with ice stickles and some glue added in.  The strips are 1/4 x 6 inches.  I laid them all out and placed them on double stick tape on my craft sheet, then peeled it up and applied it to the form.  The wings are cut on my Cricut, from the Dinosaur Tracks cartridge.  On the sample but not in the kit are some pearls, the stickles used (Eucalyptus) and some tulle, and of course, any adhesive.

Barb Stovall has guest designed a form for us and I will add her tips and photos shortly.

In lieu of an instruction sheet, I've decided to refer you to this post, and PLEASE feel free to ask any questions.  This is really a "Free Form" kit and I hope that you will have lots of fun doing it!  If you decide you would like a kit, please e-mail me at croppinsville@att.net – if you have a preferred paint color you would like, please let me know.  

Coming in 2010.

Spun Sugar + Barn Door + Rusty Hinge + Wild Honey + Bundled Sage + Crushed Olive + Forest Moss + Tumbled Glass + Stormy Sky + Chipped Sapphire + Victorian Velvet + Pumice Stone

Click HERE to see the new colors on Tim Holtz blog!

Order them all and save!  Inks and Reinkers, all together!  FREE PRIORITY SHIPPING on this item!  Best deal on the net, and a portion of the proceeds benefits A Place to Bark.

Click below to purchase a bundled set of all 12 new ink colors, and reinkers. 

*Nitty Gritty Details…

Free shipping applies only to U.S. orders.  I will ship internationally – please contact me for a quote. Bundle will ship upon arrival – expected ship date from Ranger is following CHA on January 24.  Check here for updated shipping information.

Offer ends when CHA begins, Sunday January 24!

When I arrived at the shop, Main Street had been cleared, but blocking the businesses.  I parked in the nicely cleared city hall lot.  

Not wishing this icy wrath on anyone, we have decided to close til after New Years.

Happy Everything, everyone.

Q:  Are you getting Tim's new products?

A:  Yes, every one of them.

Q:  Are you going to have a special?

A:  I'm going to try and have the best special on the web!

Q:  What are the new products?

A:  A new BOOK, 18 new Sizzix dies (a line called Alterations – sneak peek here at Tattered Flowers at Dawn's Creative Chalet and some ACTUAL photos at t!m's blog), new Die Machine, papers, ephemera for paper crafts and jewelry, and new stamps.  Also … pictures of 12 new Distress Inks at T!m Holtz' Blog – Barn Door, Bundled Sage, Chipped Sapphire, Crushed Olive, Forest Moss, Pumice Stone, Rusty Hinge, Spun Sugar, Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass, Victorian Velvet, Wild Honey.  

We have more links at the Croppinsville Yahoo Group.  Not a member?  Join Croppinsville and then click here to see the post with links.

Q:  Will you have a bundle deals on new products?

A:  Yes, of course – get them all together in one place.  I'll have several different bundles to choose from and a portion of the proceeds will benefit A Place to Bark.  FYI – off topic, they are having ART AUCTIONS through Dec. 25 – check it out here.

Q:  When will you get these new products?

A:  CHA is January 24 – 27.  I will be there ready to order and as soon as I have a definite date, I will let you know.  Rumor has it that Ranger will have these items ready to go – but I don't know about Sizzix or Advantus (Ideaology).  When I have an update, I will post!  I am setting up a special page just for T!M's new stuff – our BUNDLE SPECIALS.  We also have a page here just for Product Delivery Updates – you can find that by looking at our CATEGORIES.  I will add new Q&A to this post as needed.

Q:  Do you do layaways or payment programs?

A:  Yes, I just need a deposit and regular payments.  Because of our delivery problems in the past, we will only require a deposit of our cost on items.  Balance is due when the order ships.  You can cancel an order at ANY time and receive a refund, less a .50 handling fee –  no questions asked. 

Q:  Do you have a wish list?

A:  I have set up a program to keep a list of your latest wishes and desires in your customer account.  There is no way for you to see this – but you can e-mail me any time and I can send you the list.  If you would like us to keep a list of your stamps and inks so there is no double ordering, we can do that too.  If you bought it at Croppinsville, we can look it up as well.  So – to keep a wishlist, just e-mail us.  

So… let the savings begin, both you saving up and my special offers that is!

Have a Q that wasn't A?  E-mail me at croppinsvillestudio@gmail.com and I'll post it here.